Editor's note: Every NFL team is preparing to attack its offseason to-do list, with free agency set to open March 12 and the draft April 25-27. This is the 30th of 32 reports in 32 days by Sporting News NFL correspondents, who will analyze the offseason game plan for each team. Up next: San Diego Chargers.

TALENT OVERVIEW

The Raiders' roster is thin in terms of impact and core players to build around. To that end, it’s incumbent upon general manager Reggie McKenzie and his personnel department to hit upon most, if not all, of their roster moves in the coming weeks and months if the Raiders are to build a solid foundation for the future.

The first process will be trying to re-sign key players such as outside linebacker Philip Wheeler, tight end Brandon Myers and defensive lineman Desmond Bryant.

If McKenzie and coach Dennis Allen don’t make great strides this season, it’s likely owner Mark Davis will lose patience and contemplate shaking up the front office and coaching staff after only two seasons.

KEY DEPARTURES

The Raiders likely won’t attempt to re-sign defensive tackle Richard Seymour, whose contract voided after last season. They also face the prospect of losing key backup defensive lineman Desmond Bryant, punter Shane Lechler, Myers and Wheeler, all of whom are eligible to become unrestricted free agents.

Former starting middle linebacker Rolando McClain, somewhat of a divisive force. likely will be released in the offseason now that the Raiders no longer view him as a starter.

It’s also conceivable that the Raiders will part ways with Kelly and Heyward-Bey, especially if they aren’t willing to restructure their prohibitive contracts.

Therefore, the Raiders figure to be active in free agency and the draft in terms of adding interior defensive lineman, a middle linebacker and a receiver. First-year player Marquette King already is being groomed as a replacement for Lechler.

NEEDS/TARGETS

1. Cornerback. The Raiders turned over their entire complement of cornerbacks last offseason. Now they’re right back in a similar position, with 2012 opening-game starters Ron Bartell and Shawntae Spencer not under contract and not likely to return.

Michael Huff was Oakland’s best cornerback last season, but he is moving back to free safety this season.

The Raiders are so thin at cornerback that it’s likely they will address the need via the draft and free agency. Veteran Dunta Robinson is a player the Raiders likely will take a look at, in addition to Dee Milliner, Desmond Trufant and Xavier Rhodes in the draft.

2. Defensive tackle. Seymour is gone. Bryant might be too expensive for the Raiders to re-sign. Kelly isn’t a certainty to return, either.

Even if Bryant and Kelly are back, defensive tackle is a position on the Raiders radar, both in free agency and the draft.

They already met with veteran Cullen Jenkins. It’s conceivable the Raiders will use their first-round pick, No. 3 overall, on Sharrif Floyd or Star Lotulelei as a means of finding a potential impact player to replace Seymour.

Defensive coordinator Jason Tarver also is interested in making the Raiders defense more dynamic next season. Part of accomplishing that goal is finding a player that can make an impact as a nose tackle in a 3-4 alignment.

3. Offensive tackle. The Raiders are high on left offensive tackle Jared Veldheer. Still, it’s possible that the Raiders will use the No. 3 pick on Luke Joeckel or Eric Fisher and let the one they get compete against Veldheer for the starting job on the left side, with the loser taking over for departed veteran Khalif Barnes on the right side.

The Raiders are intent upon fortifying their offensive and defensive lines. Drafting Joeckel or Fisher would qualify as a nice piece of that puzzle.

If the Raiders go another direction with their first-round pick, look for them to target a proven veteran such as Eric Winston in free agency to fill the void on the right side.

4. Quarterback. Carson Palmer turns 34 late next season and Terrelle Pryor started only one game his first two seasons. At a minimum, the Raiders need to find a replacement for departed backup Matt Leinart.

McKenzie and Allen also have to be thinking long-term, given Palmer’s age and the fact that they aren’t sure if Pryor is a long-term solution Palmer’s successor.

Therefore, it’s likely that the Raiders will use one of their draft picks—not likely their first-rounder—on a quarterback such as Tyler Wilson, Matt Barkley or Tyler Bray in hopes of grooming another potential starter.

5. Wide receiver. The Raiders still lack a proven No. 1 receiver. They have several No. 2 and No. 3-type receivers on their roster—Heyward-Bey, Denarius Moore, Jacoby Ford, Rod Streater and Juron Criner—but they are without a game-changing wideout.

It’s unlikely the Raiders will use the No. 3 pick on Keenan Allen or Cordarelle Patterson. So, they likely will make a run at someone along the lines of Greg Jennings or Mike Wallace in free agency, though it’s going to be difficult for them to pony up enough money to make this happen.

CORKRAN’S TAKE

The Raiders are in somewhat better shape this offseason than they were a year ago, when first-year general manager Reggie McKenzie inherited a team without five of its seven draft picks, including those in the first, second and third round, and an unfavorable salary-cap situation.

Still, there’s still plenty of work to do before McKenzie can feel good about the overall state of the franchise. The Raiders are in a bind salary-cap wise, and they don’t have their second- and fifth-round picks in this year’s draft.

Look for the Raiders to do their best to re-sign a handful of their own free agents and go after some mid-level players in free agency, coupled the hope of adding upward of 10 players through the draft, assuming McKenzie is able to engineer a few trades before and during the draft to acquire more picks.

There’s simply too much that needs to be done and a lack of ammunition to get all of them taken care of in one offseason for the Raiders to make a significant jump toward being a playoff-caliber team in 2013.